When you are blessed to be given 65 plus years to live, it’s humbling. On April 16, I had my 65th birthday. Weeks later, I’m still walking on air. My Husband and I drove a RV Motorhome down to The Florida Keys. I must say that it was the most fun that I have had in a long time.

The “Real” New Year begins with a new cycle of life. Time for regrowth and renewal. In The Year 46 B.C., Julius Caesar created what is known as the Julian Calendar. April 1, was celebrated as New Years Day. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII replaced the Julian calendar with what is now known as the Gregorian Calendar, which celebrates New Years Day on January 1.

The problem is, you can not begin something new in the “dead of winter”. In the Julian calender, a new year started around the time of The Vernal Equinox, which is around March 20. This is when the hours of day and night are equal.

In Astrology, it’s when The Sun enters the Sign of Aries. My Husband and I, just started our garden last weekend on March 20, 2021. The weather changes, flowers start to bloom, and leaves begin to turn green. This is Mother Nature waking up. Get out there Folks, let’s celebrate The New Year!.

In the past six months, since March 2020, most of The United States have been in some level of state restrictions or lockdowns. I live in Florida, so we enjoy beautiful weather most of the year. It has been very hard to shelter in place.

There was even a period of time, when we could not go and enjoy the beach, nor enjoy the Atlantic Ocean. How did you Guys make it through the previous months.

I have been lucky. I was able to work my business from my Home Office. Also, I was able to continue Cycling. The ability to get out of the house, and get some fresh air, have saved me from going crazy. My Neighbor and I have ridden our bikes 2-3 times of week for the past months to stay fit and healthy.

It has been said, that we never forget how to ride a bike. You just get back on, Right? That is easier said than done when you’re an mature person. I have been very consistent, and I have made riding my Road Bike a part of my life.

Our Country is going through the most difficult time we have faced as a nation in 100 years. This Health Crisis- Covid-19 is very real. Our livelihood is at stake. There has never been a better reason to take care of yourself. We all know the basic recommendations of avoiding the virus.- Like washing your hands, and keeping your social distance. We must also be more observant of what we are feeding our bodies. Here are a few suggestions that could help ward off some of the infection, and build your immune system. I’m not a Doctor, and do not take this as medical advice. Be sure to check with your Physician with questions.

It has been widely known that Exercise is the key to good health. That’s the simple truth. As we get older, we generally become more sedentary. If you are eating more calories than you burn, it will most definitely lead to weight gain. Recently, I bought a mountain bike, and have been riding it regularly. It’s a wonderful activity, and has many benefits.

Here are some of the top benefits of riding your bike.

1. It’s a whole body workout. You will see an improvement in your muscles and body tone.
2. You will sleep better.
3. Helps to reduce stress, and improve mood. Exercise boost serotonin.
4. Increased Brain Power.
5. Improved Heart Health
6. You are protecting yourself from disease, with improving your immune system.
7. Cycling is Less stress on your joints, it’s low impact.

Cycling can be fun, but what do you do if your bike breaks down? There were many things I had to learn about going on bike rides. You need to be familiar with your bike, the tires, the gears etc. Being prepared is key. If on a solo bike ride, you don’t have to be worried. I ran across this Cyclist online Guide to “Do It Yourself” maintenance and repair Guide. It helped me a lot. Here is the site to visit: DIY Bike Repair Videos-The Ultimate Guide.

With all of the Medical advances made within the past 100 years. There are still many unknowns about Alzheimers. Doctors are not able to detect the symptoms early, and there is “No Cure”. Personally, we I hear the words. “there is no cure”, It gets my full attention. So, if there is no cure, what lifestyle changes do I need to make in order to slow it down or prevent it.

What exactly is Alzheimer’s. Back in 1906, the disease was first described by a German Psychiatrist, who noted symptoms of memory loss, confusion, paranoia in a patient. This type of dementia later became know as Alzheimer’s. An autopsy was performed on the female patient, and was noted that there was shrinkage in and around nerve cells in her brain.

The first approved drug to treat the symptoms was approved in 1993. Cognex targets memory loss. Today there are 5 FDA drugs on the market that are approved to treat dementia and Alzheimers. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, seeing patients who are given the drugs, still struggle with day to task. More research is needed. What can we do to combat this disease? Doctors do have some lifestyle changes that you can adpot that just simply promotes a healthier life for yourself.

#1, Avoid Smoking, no further explanation needed on that point.

#2.Getting control of high blood presure, high cholesrol and or diabetes.

#3. Exercise Daily- should be #1.

#4. Take care of your mental health. Use cognitive skills, such as memory skills.

#5, Adopt good balanced eating habits, such s a Mediterranean it. This includes eating vegetables, fruits, fresh fish, nuts, olive oil,omega-3 fatty acids.

Just think healthy, eat well, and don’t isolate yourself. Short or long walk are beneficial. You are important, so take care.

If you would like a Alzheimer’s Tshirt, you can visit my EBAY Store Afitgirl.

It’s that time again for Ages 50 Plus Seniors to grab their athletic gear and compete in their favorite sport. The Senior Games have been a part of the tradition of getting and keeping older Folks interested and involved in a community event. The games are held every year, and consist of more than a dozen different sports the athletes can participate in. Some of the most popular activities are Golf, Track & Field, Bowling, Weight-Lifting, Basketball, and Swimming. Athletes compete locally to qualify for The State level, and can go on to compete in The National Event.-Held every 2 years.

This Year’s Jazz Festival was a Hit. The Three Day Event provided lots of Music, Fun, and Food. Event-Goers enjoyed Sensational Artist like Gladys Knight, Brian Culbertson, Monty Alexander, Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet, Avery Sunshine, The Sax Pack, Amina Scott, and More.